Apparatus for handling merchandise



Nov. 5, 1929.

F. A. L. BLOOM APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MERCHANDISE Filed Sept. 10, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [Var/1A,! 520022 ATTO RN EYS NOV. 5, 1929. BLOOM1,734,318

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MERCHANDISE Filed Sept. 10. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 5, 1929 FRANK A. L. BLOOM, F DETROIT, MICHIGANAPPARATUS FOR HANDLING MERCHANDISE Application filed September 10, 1928.Serial No. 805,007.

This invention relates generally to the method and apparatus forhandling merchandise such as fruits and vegetables and refers moreparticularly to the handling of tomatoes.

An object of the invention is to provide means for efliciently andexpeditiously handling tomatoes which have been shipped to a centraldistributing point and which must be unwrapped, sorted and repackedbefore delivery to the wholesale and retail trade.

Other objects and advantages of my invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as willbe more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the rawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a view of one section of the apparatus showin conveyor andsuction means or disposing o the paper wrappings;

Figure 3 1s a view of another section of the apparatus showing in detailone of the receiving units.

Generally the method comprises conveying the individually wrappedtomatoes past a device for removing the coverings and then past certaindesignated bins or compartments into which the tomatoes ready forimmediate packing, are placed by operators along the line of travel. Thebalance of the tomatoes on the conveyor are sorted according to degreeof ripeness and size and placed in conditioning rooms for ripening ormaturing until they too are ready for packing.

Specifically the apparatus comprises a conveyor 10 preferably of theendless belt type of any standard make, which is adapted to be actuatedin any desired manner such as b motor 11 mounted in a box 12 at one sideof the conveyor. This source of power may be connected through avariable speed reduction of any standard make. On one side of thisconveyor are positioned a plurality of sorting and packin units 13, eachunit consistin of a pair 0 inclined bins or troughs 14 an 15 resectively, a shelf 16 upon which a container 1 for lower and cheapergrades of tomatoes is placed, an inclined support 18 ad aCent to trough15 upon which a carton 19 is positioned, and a pair of paper holders 2(for containing paper 21 used in rewrapping the tomatoes as they areplaced in carton 19. Each unit 13 'is adapted to be presided over by anoperator (not shown) in a manner to be presently described.

On the side of the conveyor opposite the units 13 are placed a pluralityof boxes 22, 60 while directly above the belt 10 is positioned aproperly proportioned suction nozzle or stripper 23. At the extremefront end of the conveyor the side walls 24 are provided with bumpers 25for cushioning the tomatoes as 65 they are rolled upon the conveyor fromthe delivery chute 26. This chute is provided with a bottom 27consisting of spaced slats forming a wooden grate which permits dirt anddecayed tomatoes to fall through the same, before they reach theconveyor.

With the apparatus as thus far described, the operation is as follows: The tomatoes are dumped from the crates in which they are shipped,direotly upon the chute 26 and are directed down upon the belt 10, thebumpers 25 cushioning the tomatoes and preventing bruising of the same.The tomatoes are now conveyed to the stripper 23. Heretofore the paperswere removed by hand necessitating the handling of all the tomatoes andpresenting a problem in the disposal of the refuse. Under the methodherein described, the wrappers are drawn off under the action of astrong induced draft operating through the nozzle. The papers on beingremoved, are drawn through the nozzle by a suitable fan 28 and blown toa restraining chamber 29 under Which may be placed a baler 30 for theeasy disposal of the refuse. The nozzle is so de- M signed as toincrease the swirlirg motion of the air as it acts on the wra pp'edtomatoes, loosening and tearing away the paper wrapers. P As shown, thestripper is placed just in front of the first unit 13 and the operatorsare stationed at spaced intervals along the side of the conveyoropposite to said units. As the tomatoes are carried past the operatorsby the moving belt, they place the tomatoes ready for immediate packingin the troughs 14 and 15 according to size. The balance of the fruit issorted simultaneously into containers 22 at the side of the operatorsand placed in conditioning rooms for ripening.

Preferably each unit 13 is adapted to be presided over by a separateoperator whose duty it is to pack the tomatoes in the troughs 14 and 15into carton 19. The tomatoes are separately wrapped with sheets of papertaken from holders 20 and as soon as carton 19 is tilled, it is takenaway and another placed in position. The containers 17 are also replacedwhen filled, the tomatoes in these cartons not being wrapped.

For facilitating the sorting and packing operation there is provided alongitudinally extending rack 31 positioned at one side of the conveyorand above the units 13, as clearly shown in Figure 2. This rack isprovided with usptanding side walls 32 within which are journalledrollers 33 which project slightly above the top edges of the walls. Thearrangement is such that the walls constitute a track upon which emptycartons are placed and moved along for the convenience of the operatorsat the units 13. This, rack is also adapted to support a plurality oflamps 34 which illuminate the tomatoes upon both the conveyor and unitand which diffuse a light particularly helpful for the sorting oftomatoes.

As each carton 19 is filled, it is taken off of the support 18 andplaced upon a second conveyor 35 preferably of the roller type of anystandard make, where it is gradually rolled down to a weighing table 36.An op erator at this table weighs and seals each carton whereupon it isready to be delivered to the wholesaler. The container 17 contains thelower grade tomatoes which being-very ripe, must be used immediately.These are adapted to be used for pe'ddler trade and are removed to adifferent point than those packed for the wholesale trade.

It should be stated that the conveyor 10 is preferably waxed from timeto time. this wax absorbing and taking up any dirt or other refuse fromthe tomatoes which would otherwise work into and gum up the belt. Asshown in Figure 3. the conveyor frame 37 is provided with spaced crossbars 38 which besides functioning to strengthen the frame. are adaptedto contact with the lower level of the belt and constitute scrapers forremoving a great deal of the dirt sticking to the belt It will also benoted that thc'lower edge portions of each pipe 23 are rounded as at 39instead of terminating in a straight edge.

Thus the air sweeps around the rounded portion 39 and tends to lift thewrappers from the tomatoes. This rounded edge construction therebyfacilitates the entrance of the paper wrappers into the mouth of thepipes and also prevents the same from becoming lodged or caught upon theedges of the pipes.

It is furthermore noted that the bins or troughs 14 and 15 each have aflexible canvas bottom 40, the object thereof being to prevent thebruising of the tomatoes when they are placed in these troughs.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a method andapparatus for handling merchandise and in particular, tomatoes whichgreatly expedites the sorting and packing of the tomatoes and whichrequires a minimum amount of space and labor.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a conveyor of the endlessbelt type, means for discharging individually wrapped tomatoes upon theconveyor, means associated with the conveyor opposite the dischargemeans for cushioning the tomatoes as they are discharged upon theconveyor, pneumatic means above the conveyor adjacent the dischargemeans for removing the wrappers from the tomatoes, and means beyond theremoving means along the conveyor for receiving tomatoes according toripeness and size.

In an apparatus of the class described, a conveyor of the endless belttype, means at one end of the conveyor for discharging individuallywrapped tomatoes upon the con veyor, pneumatic means above the conveyoradjacent the discharge means for removing the wrappers of the tomatoes,and means beyond the removing means along the conveyor for receivingtomatoes according to ripeness and size.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a conveyor of the endlessbelt type, means at one end of the conveyor for discharging individuallywrapped tomatoes upon the conveyor. means associated with the conveyoropposite the discharge means'for cushioning the tomatoesas they aredischarged upon the conveyor, pneumatic means above the conveyor beyondthe cushioning means for removlng wrappers from the tomatoes, and meansalong the conveyor beyond the removing means for reeeivingtomatoesaccording to ripeness and size.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a conveyor of the endlessbelt type, means for discharging individually wrapped tomatoes upon theconveyor and including means for permitting dirt and decayed tomatoes tofall through the same, pneumatic means above the conveyor adjacent thedischarge means for removing the wrappers of the tomatoes, means beyondthe removing means along the conveyor for receiving tomatoes accordin toripeness and size, and a track of the ro ler type above the receivingmeans and substantially parallel thereto upon which empty cartons may beremoved for the convenience of operators located along the receivingmeans.

5. In an apparatus of the class described,

a conveyor of the endless belt type, means for discharging individuallywrapped tomatoes upon the conveyor, pneumatic means above the conveyoradjacent the discharge means for removing the wrappers of the tomatoes,means beyond the removing means along the conveyor for receivingtomatoes according to ripeness and size, and a second conveyor of theroller type adjacent the first conveyor for receiving and conveying to aweighing table cartons as they are filled with tomatoes in the receivingmeans.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a conveyor of the endlessbelt type, a chute for discharging individually wrapped tomatoes uponthe conveyor, resilient means associated with the conveyor opposite thedischarge means for cushioning the tomatoes as they are discharged uponthe conveyor, means along the conveyor for receiving tomatoes accordingto ripeness and size, and pneumatic means between the last mentionedmeans and the chute for removing the wrappers of the tomatoes.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a conveyor of the endlessbelt type, means for discharging individually wrapped tomatoes upon theconveyor, and means adjacent the discharge means for removing thewrappers of the tomatoes including a stationary nozzle above and openingtoward the conveyor, and means creating a strong induced draft throughthe nozzle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANK A. L. BLOOM.

